21 Taras Wongkur Empowerment

Instructor: Lama Linda
Dates: Sundays - March 1, March 29, and April 26
New Link to Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87469872916?pwd=dW45sm68Mj6aOeNWT2TYvJk32Wo4OX.1
Meeting ID: 874 6987 2916 Password: 108108

This three-day Vajrayana retreat on the 21 Taras deity practice, following the lineage and guidance of Doug Duncan (Qapel), offers a focused and devotional immersion into Tara practice. The first two days may be attended either online or in person, allowing flexibility for participants, while the final day will be held in person in order to complete the cycle together. Each of the first two days includes two sessions, from 10:00 am–12:00 noon and 1:00–3:00 pm, with the final day held in person at the home of Lama Linda (in the Warkworth, Ontario area) from 10:00 am–4:00 pm, completing the 21 Wongkurs over three days in a continuous and integrated way. The 21 Tara practice is traditionally known for dispelling all fears—both outer and inner—supporting practitioners in cultivating courage, compassion, and awakened activity through sustained Vajrayana practice.

As the session over the three days build upon each other, it is expected that participants plan to attend all three days. Registration is required and simply involves emailing [info@awakenintoronto.org](mailto:info@awakenintoronto.org) with 21 Taras Wongkur in the subject line. There is no fee for registration, and participants are encouraged to offer Dana to AIT. More information will be shared with people who register by February 15, 2026.

Classes are offered on the ancient basis of Dana, also known as "give from the heart" or "pay what you choose." This allows you to pay according to your heart, and to what you value. Dana can be sent by e-transfer to dana@awakenintoronto.org or by PayPal to https://paypal.me/awakeningintoronto

Teacher Bio: Lama Linda (Linda Hochstetler) has explored consciousness and awakening for more than 30 years. She trained with Namgyal Rinpoche—the first Canadian-born Rinpoche—from 1995 until his passing in 2003, grounding herself in Theravada and Vajrayana Buddhist practices. She later continued her studies with Qapel (Doug Duncan), a successor in the Namgyal lineage, and received permission to teach under his guidance. She is the co-founder and leader of the Awaken in Toronto Sangha, where she teaches weekly online classes on consciousness and awakening principles, and leads retreats 4 times a year.
A registered social worker specializing in illness, dying, and death, Lama Linda also maintains a thriving private psychotherapy practice, has presented widely at conferences, and has been interviewed extensively on end-of-life topics. In 2021 she published her first book, 21 Days to Die: The Canadian Guide to End of Life. A mother, wife, and friend to many, she encourages her students to use their relationships as gateways to love more deeply and explore dharma more fully. She is devoted to weaving Buddhist teachings with Western psychotherapeutic approaches to support transformative change. www.lindahochstetler.com